Documentary Screening: "From the Ground Up"

A film following indigenous Peruvian women deep into the Andes, where they are remaking local mountaineering culture from within.
About this Event

"From the Ground Up: The Andean Women Remaking the Mountaineering World" follows indigenous Peruvian mountaineers Yudith Mamani and Lixayda Vásquez deep into Peru's Cordillera Vilcanota range, tracing their origins in the indigenous territories of the country to the high peaks of the Andes. There, they have become formidable climbers and pursued careers in the mountains their ancestors revered as holy places, carrying with them a personal connection to the alpine as a living environment. The film offers a window into how mountaineering culture in one of the world's most storied ranges is shifting toward mentorship and community among Andean women.

This film is a production of Rachel Blair and Skyler Purwins. They shot the documentary in Peru in 2025, conducting interviews in the women's homes in rural Peru, at basecamps, and on expedition alongside them. This event is an opportunity to share the film with the PNW mountain community and to inspire others to see the mountains as living places.

Agenda

🕑: 06:30 PM - 07:00 PM
Doors open + introduction to the film
🕑: 07:00 PM - 07:30 PM
Film screening
🕑: 07:30 PM - 08:00 PM
'Behind the Lens': reflections on the making-of + brief Q&A